BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of March 20, 2007

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss mosquito treatment from 9:45 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 with Commissioners James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of March 13, 2007.

2.       Acknowledge receipt of a letter from the National Association of Counties appointing Paul Pearce as a member of the Public Lands Steering Committee.

3.       Notice of completion of contract for McNealy Excavating, Inc for Rock Creek emergency excavation.

4.       Notice of completion of contract for Cascade Equipment & construction, Inc for Rock Creek emergency excavation.

5.       Acknowledge Director of Administrative Services’ approval of application to Dept. of Community, Trade & Economic Development for FY 2007 funding for Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse.

6.       Resolution 2007-13 adopting 10-year Homeless Housing Plan, establishing a Homeless Housing Council, and authorizing Washington Gorge Action Programs to assist with the Housing Plan and Council.

7.       Authorize Planning & Community Development to initiate the public review process for the 2007 Comprehensive Plan and Swift Subarea Plan.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to acknowledge of receipt of FCC Form 394 Application for Franchise Authority Consent to Assignment or Transfer of Control of Cable Television Franchise and request for consent to transfer control of Millennium Digital Media from TSG Cable Investment Corp and TSG Cable Investment Corp III to Caravelle Millennium Investment Corporation and Highland Crusader Offshore Partners, L.P. 

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on personnel, Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department, and engineering projects.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on code changes, Hearing Examiner workshop, Comprehensive Plan/Swift Plan, milfoil applicator request for proposals, and personnel.

 

Scott Pineo, Recreation and Facilities Director reported on facility usage, community education and recreation programming, upcoming events, facilities, Rock Creek Services Center request for proposals, and presented a facilities report for buildings and grounds maintenance and custodial maintenance.

 

Ann Lueders, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of March 13, 2007.  The Board reviewed and discussed the following reports:

§         Report #2006-E-25.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2006-03.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations, noting that all clients would be sent a letter regarding the containment of animals.

§         Report #2006-E-03.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

Lori Cochran, Executive Director for Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault and staff gave a presentation on prevention and outreach activities and local statistics.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried to declare the month of April 2007 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Skamania County.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting, via phone, at 12:03 p.m. and gave an update on a National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition conference call regarding the Secure Rural Schools and County Payments reauthorization.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:14 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2007 and reconvened at 1:20 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss mosquito monitoring, treatment plan and budget in Home Valley, with no action taken.

 

Nancy Ryke, Mt. Adams District Ranger and Tom Mulder, Mount St. Helens Monument District Ranger gave updates on Forest Service activities.  Discussion included road damage, assessment and repair, timber salvage from storms, recreation sites/campgrounds, budget cuts, Hemlock Dam removal, potential stewardship sales, and collaboration process.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting, via phone, at 2:23 p.m. and gave an update on the Secure Rural Schools and County Payments Program and advised of a press release regarding efforts by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell to extend the County Payments program, which expired last year, by five years to provide critical support for schools and emergency services in timber communities.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2007-03 adopting new Chapter 8.68 to Skamania County Code entitled Well and Water Systems to establish standards and procedures for installing a well or creating a small public water system within Skamania County.  Bruce Scherling, Skamania County Environmental Health Officer gave a staff report.  Comments from the public included concern that water testing should be a requirement and concern with the limitation of the number of connections allowed on a well.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2007-03 Well and Water Systems. 

 

The meeting recessed at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2007 and reconvened at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek slide activity, Salmon Falls Park and Ride timber issue, County Road Fund publication options, personnel, and contracting versus day labor, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting, via phone, from 10:30 a.m. until 10:40 a.m. to give an update on Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss a letter notice on Comprehensive Plan and Swift Subarea, Volcanic Hazard Level 1 zone letter notice, draft decision to Gorge Commission on park and ride, bonding issues on short plats, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development site visit to Piper Slide area, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss boat launch parking enforcement, code revisions to Chapter 12.04 Public Parks and Recreation Facilities, Civil Service space and storage, and Sheriff’s storage, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2007 and reconvened at 11:03 a.m. Thursday, March 22, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending March 22, 2007 in the total amount of $166,738.63.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting, via phone, at approximately 11:22 a.m. and gave an update on the status of Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:48 a.m. Thursday, March 22, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON